Circuit breaker



Apnl 7,` 1936. P. PHFFATH Y 2,036,295

CIRCUIT BREAKER iled omge, 195s Z5 10 ZZ@ I6 Z4 Z 13 17 210, .Z3

Patented Apr. 7, 1936 o lRcUrr aREAKER Peter mmh, Elmurst, N. Y.

Application ctober 26, 1933, Serial No. 695,244

Claims.

This invention relates to circuit breakers and more especially to generator cut-outs for automobile lbattery charging systems.

An object of this invention is an eilicient and 5 inexpensive circuit breaker having provision for sistance of said member, whereupon the movable' contact is snapped into positive non-chattering engagement with the stationary contact. The i extent of movement of the movable contact is such that its carrying member retains this condition of bias so that upon release from the stresses, the movable contact member is returned to normal position.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing,

wherein: Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the cut-out mounted on a generator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section;

Fig. 3 is aplan view;

Fig. 4 is a bottom View;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sections corresponding generally to Fig. 2;

Fig. 'Z is a perspective view of the armature and armature spring, and

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram.

A metal base it is provided with legs il which rest .on the casing of the generator G and are attached thereto by bolts I2. A ugshaped metal frame i3 has its bottom portion lying on an insulating plate I4 which in turn rests on the base I0. An electro-magnet is arranged Within the frame I3 and has an iron core I5 terminating in a threaded stud I6 of reduced diameter and passing through apertures in the bottom of the frame I3, the insulator I4 and the base I0. The stud I6 ts snuglyin the aperture in the insulator I4, but the apertures in the frame I3 and the base I0 are of larger diameter than the 1 stud. Insulators I1 and I8 surround the stud rI6 and insulate it from the frame I3 and base l0. The core I5 is provided with an enlarged head I9.- Insilating discs 20 surround the core el v (Cl. 20G-76) I5, the upper one engaging the head I9 and the lower one engaging the insulator il which in turn is engaged by the shoulder formed between the core l and the stud it. A coil 2l of fine insulated wire surrounds the core It a and a coil 22 of coarse insulated wire surrounds the coil ti.

A portion of one side o the U-frame i3 is struck out and bent down to form a contact member 23 which extends through an aperture in the insulator It and through an opening in the base lll, the latter opening being of such size that the contact member 4does not touch the base. A second contact member 2li is riveted to the insulator It and the base lo is cut away to provide an opening to receive the end of the contact member 2li, the opening being of such dimensions that ,the contactmember does not touch the base.

One end 22a oi the coil 22 extends through the bottom insulator 2t, the bottom of the frame l E3, the insulator it and the contact member 2t to which it is attached, the opening through the frame I3 being of sumcient size that the wire does not touch the frame. The other end 22h ofthe coil 22 is attached to a collar 25 carried by the stud it. Y g

One end Zic of the coil 2i extends through the bottom insulator 2li, the bottom of the frame I3 from which it is insulated, the insulator it, the base ill from which it is also insulated and .is connected by means of the screw 26 to the contact member 23. The other end 2lb of the ycoil 2| is connected to the base itat 2l. A nut 28 is threaded on to the end of the stud It to clamp the various parts in assembled relation.

The upper ends of the frame I3 are bent to form flanges 29. A spring plate t@ rests on the :flanges 29 and its ends are bent to form loops iitting around the flanges 2s. The plate is cut 40 away to form a pair of inwardly .extending tongues 3i connected by strips 32 offset from the tongues on opposite sides thereof and merging with the tongues centrally thereof. A cross member 33 extends between the strips 32, inter- 45 mediate the free ends of the tongues 3|. The armature 34 of the electro-magnet is of rectangular shape and is supported by rivets 35 located at the inner endsof/ the tongues 3l. A contact 36 is riveted 'to the cross memberV 33 and is arranged in an aperture in the armature 34. A contact 31 is provided on the cap I9 of the core I5 to cooperate with the contact 36. The strips 32 are bowed up slightly centrally I (see Fig. 5). The armature is provided with lugs 34a which are adapted to engage the top insulator 20 to limit downward movement of the armature.

Normally, the armature and contact stand in the position shown in Fig. 5 with the contact 36 spaced fi m the contact 31 and the strips 33 biased away from the head I9. Energization of the electro-magnet causes the armature to be pulled down to the position shown in Fig. 6. As the armature'moves down, the inner ends of the tongues 3| are pulled down, thus applying stresses to the strips 32 tending to move the contact 36 toward the contact 31,- such movement being initially opposed by the resistances exerted by the upward bow of the strips. However, after-1 the contact 36 in engagement with the contact 31, the strips y32 retain their condition of bias away from the head I9 so that as soon as the electro-magnet is de-energized the contact 31 'returns to its original position. Y

The contact member 23 is connected to the generator and the contact member 2l is connected to the battery. With the generator at rest, the contact 36 is spaced from the contact- 31 and the circuit between the generator and battery is broken, thus preventing discharge of the battery through the generator. When the generator is started up, current flows by way of contact member 23 through the high resistance coil 2| and base to ground, thereby energizing the electro-magnet to draw down the armature and move the contact 36 into engagement with the contact 31; ySuch engagement closes a circuit from the generator to the battery through the contact member 23, U-shaped member |3, plate 30, contact 36, contact 31, core I5, collar 25, low resistance coil 22 and contact member 24, by which charging current is supplied to the battery. Upon closing of this circuit, the flow of current through the high resistance coil 2| becomes negligible but the electro-magnet is kept energized by the coil 22 and the armature is maintained in its pulleddown position. This condition persists until the generator stops, whereupon current ceases to ow through the coil 22 and the electro-magnet becomes de-energized, thereby permitting the return of contact 36 to its original or normal position by its spring carrier.

The application of stresses to the strips 32 at either side of the contact 36 insures positive pull down of the contact against the contact 31 and steady non-chattering engagement between the contacts during operation of the generator. Sparking is thus prevented resulting in long effective life of the contacts. Also, the design and arrangement is such that a greater magnetic ux in the core |5 is required to pull the contact 36 intoaengagement with the contact 31 than is/required to hold them in contact. This relationship avoids chattering between contacts upon variations in the voltage developed by the generator. The movable contact'carrier is so designed that the contact 36 is not pulled down until the voltage developed by the generator exceeds the battery voltage byixa predetermined amount, and is held down at allgenerator voltages between the 'pull-down voltage and the battery voltage, but is released when the generator voltage drops below the battery voltage. Thus, after the contact 36 has been once pulled down, non-chattering contact is maintained for all voltage variations which do not fally below the battery voltage. The armature at all times moves parallel to the axis of the core and stresses are equally and uniformly applied to the contact carrying member on both sides of the contact, thereby insuring accurate 4and proper action thereof. 'I'he lugs 34a engage the top insulator 20 to prevent contacto! the armature with the head I9 of the core I I.

I claim:

1. In a circuit breaker, a lstationary contact, a resilient member having xed ends extending across said contact and being bowed into biased relation thereto, a second contact carried by said Jresilient member for cooperating with said iirst contact, a plate, and connections between said -plate and resilient member for'applying unbiasing stresses to the latter upon movement of the former.

2. In a circuit breaker, a stationary contact, a resilient member extending across said contact and being bowed into biased relation thereto, a second contact carried by said resilient member for cooperating with said first contact, a plate having an aperture in which said second. contact is arranged, and connections between said plate and resilient member for applying unbiasing stresses to the latter upon movement of the former.

3. In a circuit breaker, a stationary contact, a resilient member extending across' said contact and being bowed into biased relation thereto, a second contact carried by said resilient member for cooperating with said first contact, a plate and arms connecting intermediate points of said resilient member with said plate for applying unbiasing stresses to the former upon movement of the latter. i t

4. In a circuit breaker, a stationary contact, a resilient member extending across said contact and being bowed into biased relation thereto, a second contact carried by said resilient member for cooperating with said rst contact. a plate having an aperture in which said second contact is arranged, and arms connecting intermediate points of said resilient member with said plate for applying unbiasing stresses to the former upon movement of the latter.

5-. In a circuit breaker, a U-shaped frame, a stationary contact within said frame, a resilient member having its ends attached to the ends of said frame and being bowed into biased condition with respect to said stationary contact, a second contact carried by said resilient member for co-operation with said stationary contact, a plate, and connections between said plate and resilient member for applying unbiasing stresses to the latter upon movement of the former.

6. In a circuit breaker, a U-shaped frame, a stationary contact within said frame, a resilient member having its ends attached to the ends of said frame and being bowed into biased condition with respect to said stationary contact, a

second contact carried by said resilient member for co-operation with said stationary contact, a plate, and arms connecting intermediate points of the resilient member with said plate for applying unbiasing stresses to the former upon movement of the latter.

` 7. In a circuit breaker, a stationary contact,

a resilient member extending across said contact ,and being bowed into biased relation thereto, a second contact carried by ysaid, resilient member for cooperation with saidl first contact, a plate f and connections between said plate and resilient member for applying unbiasing-'stresses' to the latter upon movement oi' the former, the extent of movement of said second contact being so ylimited that said resilientfmember retains its condition of bias.

8.k In a circuit breaker, a stationary contact, a plate, a pair of alined spring tongues sup ported at their i'ar ends and having their I-near yends attached to said plate, resilient members attached to both said tongues centrally and be ing laterally oiset, anda second contact supported by said resilient members between the ends of said tongues for cooperation with said stationary contact, said resilient members being bowed into bias' relation to said electro-magnet.

9. In acircuit breaker, a stationary contact, a second contact, a resilient member supporting ysaid second contactsaid member having fixed ends and being biased with respect to said first contact, a plate having an aperture through which said second contact is movable into engagement with said stationary contact, and con;-

`nectioris between said plate and contact-carrying member for applying unbiasing stresses to the latter upon movement of the former. said contact-carrying member requiring `a` greater vstress to move said second contact into' engagement with said first contact member than to yhold said contacts together after engagement.

l0. A device of the character described comtact with the stationary contact than to maintain such engagement.

il. A device of the character described comprisinga base, a lU-shaped frame thereon, al con' tact supported within said frame, a second contact, a resilient carrier for said. second contact extending between the ends of said iframe, said carrier having fixed ends and being biased with respect to said iirst contact,v a plate having an aperture through which said second contact ismovable into engagement with the rst contact, and connections between said plate and contact carrying member for applying unbiasing stresses to the latter upon movement ofthe former.

12. In a switch, a stationary` contact, a metal plate extending across said stationary contact, said metal plate having an aperture, a bridge prising a base, a U-shaped frame thereon, ai contact supported within said frame. a second member integral with said plate and extending across the aperture, the length of the bridge member being greater than the length of the aperture, said ,bridge member being provided with two apertures separated by a transverse member integral with the bridge member, arms extending from the ends of the bridge memberv toward said transverse memb r, a second contact carried by said transverse member for cooperation with said 'stationary contact, and means for applying force to thel free ends of said arms.

13. In a switch, astationary contact, a metal plate extending across said stationaryA contact,

said metal plate having an aperture, a bridge member integral with said plate and extending across the aperture, the length oi the `bridge member being greater than the vlength of the aperture, said bridge member being provided with two apertures separated by a transverse member integral with the bridge member, arms extending from the ends of the kbridge member toward said transverse member, a second contact carried by said transverse lmember for co-operation with said stationary contact, and a plate connected to the free ends of said arms for applying force thereto, said plate having an aperture in which said second contact is arranged.

14. In a switch, a stationary contact, a metal plate extending across said stationary contact, said metalplate having an aperture, a bridge member integral with said plate and extending across the aperture, the length of the bridge member being greater than the length of the aperture, said bridge member comprising a second plate provided with two apertures separated by a .transverse member integral -with the plate, tongues integral with the first and second plates for supporting the latter from the former, arms extending from the ends of the second plate to`- ward said transverse member, a second contact carried by said transversey member for co-operation with said stationary contact, and means for ,applying force to `the free ends of said arms.-

l5. In a switch, a stationary contact, a metal platel extending across said stationary contact, said metal plate having an aperture, a bridge member integral with said plate and extending across the aperture, the length of the bridge member being greater than the length of the aperture, said bridge member comprising a second plate provided with two apertures separated by a transverse member integral with the plate, tongues integral with the iirst and second plates for supporting the `latter from the former, arms extending from the ends of the second plate toward said transverse member, a second contact carried by said transverse member for coioperation with said stationary contact,vand -a plate connected to the'inner ends of's'aid arms for applying i'orce thereto, said plate being provided with an aperture in which said second contac't is received.

'PETER rmrATH. 

